Throgs Neck, an affordable family nabe, offers stunning views

Hugged by two of New York City’s waterways, the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx is a quiet, well-kept waterfront neighborhood that’s mainly home to families.

Located at the bottom of the borough, jutting out in the southeastern direction toward Queens, the neighborhood is also situated between two popular bridges - the Throgs Neck and Whitestone — as well as the busy Bruckner Boulevard.

Along with the water, both bridges can be seen from many back yards and are prominent reminders that although this nabe is rather suburban, it’s not far from the pulse of rushing traffic heading in and out of Manhattan and Queens.

As for its economy, Throgs Neck is now welcoming an influx of new businesses. For example, its main thoroughfare, East Tremont Avenue, received a recent boom in various restaurants and bars.
Yet, as the area becomes more vibrant, it has a rare ability to conserve some of its mom-and-pop businesses.

Throgs Neck was once an exclusive mini getaway for wealthy Manhattanites, but over time that ambiance gave way to a migration of East Harlemites in the 1960s and early 1970s, according to local experts.

While mostly working and middle class, Throgs Neck also has some exclusive elements, such as the private communities of Edgewater, Silver Beach and Lagoon Estates. But it is also home to many immigrants.

“We’re seeing a lot of younger families move in from other parts of the Bronx and people from Manhattan who want to get out of the apartment and own their own house,” said Shane Rossi, a real estate agent at Exit Realty in Throgs Neck.

The area is dotted with many single and two-family attached homes and prices range from the mid $300s to $500,000.

Relatively new waterfront condos go for about $400,000 and some come equipped with boat slips.

“You get a lot for your money here,” Rossi said. “The affordability, which brings a lot of people, and the family atmosphere are our main selling points.”

The surrounding East River and Long Island Sound waters also attract potential buyers, renters and visitors. According to Rossi, a big boat community resides in the area and activities like sailing, jet-skiing and kayaking are popular during the warm months.

“It’s a very tight-knit, family-oriented community,” Rossi said. “The homes here are occupied and passed down from generation to generation. And with the new residents and businesses the area is more alive than it’s been in previous years.

Find It: The Throgs Neck neighborhood runs from the Long Island Sound in the east to Brush Avenue or Westchester Creek in the west. It is bounded to the south by the East River and to the north by Bruckner Boulevard.

***THE BASICS

TRANSPORTATION
The area is much more accessible by car because it is conveniently located near the Cross Bronx Expressway, the Throgs Neck Expressway, the Bruckner Expressway and the Hutchinson River Parkway. Buses in the area lead to the 6 train.

TO PARTY
McGee’s Tavern, 3809 E. Tremont Ave. This local watering hole is a small spot where everyone gets to know each other. Commonly known as one of the last Irish bars on East Tremont Avenue, McGee’s Tavern plans to keep going by expanding into a microbrewery. 718-409-2911.

Paddy’s on the Bay, 50 Pennyfield Ave. Located in a prime spot, Paddy’s offers a beautiful view of the water and the Throgs Neck Bridge. 718-430-6651.

Babalu, 3233 E. Tremont Ave. This trendy Latin restaurant and lounge, overseen by consulting chef Alex Garcia (Calle Ocho) is the place to flock to for authentic Latin American food, drink and music. 718-824-8400.

TO SHOP
Stop Over Boutique, 3760 E.Tremont Ave. This trendy boutique offers affordable clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women. 718-828-4797.

Bruckner Hobbies, 3587 E. Tremont Ave. For remote-controlled airplane, train or boat aficionados, Bruckner Hobbies is the place to go. It is a truly unique spot. 718-863-3434.

TO DO
The Stephen B. Luce Library at Fort Schuyler, 6 Pennyfield Ave. Take a step back in time with this library’s archives, which are housed inside the SUNY Maritime College. It was built at the well-preserved 19th century Fort Schuyler, which was erected in the aftermath of the War of 1812 to protect the coast against foreign invasion by sea.

The Maritime Industry Museum, 6 Pennyfield Ave. 718-409-7218.

Water activities
This area is prime for water activities from boating to kayaking and fishing. The Bronxonia Yacht Club (518 Ellsworth Ave.; 718-822-9113) offers boating instruction and storage facilities for members.

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THE BUZZ

Throgs Neck is slowly becoming more vibrant. Two major construction projects are currently in the works. One is the Throggs Neck Shopping Center, which will be located at 815 Hutchinson River Parkway. It will house a Target, Applebee’s and T.J. Maxx among other establishments. According to Gamut Construction, the company building the site, it is slated to open in spring 2014. The project is estimated at $100 million.

The other is the roughly $100 million golf course, which is set to be operated by The Trump Organization. According to the Parks Department, it will be built at Ferry Point Park. It is set to be completed in 2014.

Throgs Neck suffered some damage from Superstorm Sandy and some residents and businesses are still rebuilding. According to News12, Preston High School is still making repairs to its seawall, which, if not fixed, leaves the school vulnerable to more flooding. The Bronxonia Yacht Club is also suffering some setbacks.

Members started off the boating season fixing the lingering damage to the dock from the storm.

The Vincent Avenue seawall which was damaged during the storm, is also going to be rebuilt.

According to the DOT the rebuilding process will begin within the next few months. The DOT says the project is expected to be completed by 2015.

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Q&A with Dan Baffer, owner of Bruckner Hobbies

Bruckner Hobbies is a specialty store that has been in Throgs Neck for 37 years. Dan Baffer’s father, Thomas Baffer, opened the store with a few friends to further pursue their passion for remote-controlled airplanes, helicopters and boats. Dan, 34, now co-manages the business with his father. They say their store is the largest hobby shop in the five boroughs.

How has the store benefited the neighborhood?
It offers something else for folks to do besides just hanging out; for the kids it helps them stay off the streets.

What’s your average customer like?
We get all types of people. We get middle-aged folks who have done it all their lives or who want to start a hobby with their kids, and we also get young kids now starting to get into it. It’s an activity that gets your adrenaline going.

What would you say is great about Throgs Neck?
It’s great because it’s surrounded by water, and you’re close to the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges; you have City Island nearby but there are also lots of different places to eat or hang out on East Tremont Avenue.